Thank You Washington Gardener for keeping us informed !!

For all of the DC/MD/VA gardeners who need a little more to invoke the season, Kathy Jentz has found a few things that we just might want to find time to do:

Sunday, April 21, 2013 Potomac Rose Society April Meeting and Rose Growing Program. “All About OldGarden Roses.” A discussion of old garden roses as well as climbers and their place in today’s gardens. Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy St NE, Washington, DC20017. 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Open to all. Free.

Kathy Jentz, Editor/Publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, will be a presenter at the upcoming Smithsonian GardenFest on Friday, May 10. The annual event takes place on the National Mall in Washington, DC, in coordination with National Public Gardens Day. Activities include composting demos, plant art crafts, a container contest, and much more. It is free to attend and open to the public. Event details are posted here: http://gardens.si.edu/whats-happening/garden-fest.html.

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TUDOR PLACE

Historic and hyper-local…

In the Kitchen and HerbGarden:

Tour& Workshop

Friday, April 26

10 a.m.

Explore the traditional interdependence of kitchen and garden, moving between the1914 Tudor Place kitchen and the garden outside its door with Education Director Talia Mosconi and Director of Gardens & Grounds Suzanne Bouchard. Next, plant and learn to cultivate an indoor herb garden. Admission includes all materials needed for personal herb gardens plus a printed booklet of herb-based recipes including several from the Tudor Place kitchen.

Scouts become nature detectives during interactive tours and hands-on activities at one of Georgetown‘s most celebrated houses. Armed with magnifying glasses Scouts explore the many nooks and crannies, lawns and outdoor “rooms” of Tudor Place‘s 5.5 acres of historic gardens. After the tour, Girl Scouts plant their own flowers to take home.

Immerse yourself in the lore of centuries-old trees, heirloom plants and flowers, and shapely English boxwood on a guided walk across 5.5 acres and two centuries of landscape design. Tudor Place reflects both its Federal-period origins and changes in land use over time; see first-hand how orchards, vegetable patches and stables made way for lawns, rose beds, and the lovely garden “rooms” of this urban estate, as four owners over six generations cared for and embellished the landscape.

Presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History Departmentof Botany in collaboration with the United StatesBotanic Garden withsupport from the Cuatrecasas Family Foundation

Avoiding Extinction: Contemporary Approaches to Conservation Science

Conservation science seeks to provide a rational framework for theprotection of species and their habitats. At the inception of thediscipline, scientists recognized that environmental problems, includingland use change and pollution effects, were significant challenges tosustaining biodiversity. Scientists now acknowledge that, while theseproblems remain, other issues such as invasive species, interspecifichybridization, and climate change impose additional threats to speciessurvival. Furthermore, paleoecologists have used the fossil record tocontextualize the current loss of biodiversity based on knowledge of pastextinctions and paleoclimates, and now models of predicted future climatesare helping to anticipate new challenges.

Forty years ago, the U.S. Endangered Species Act was signed into law. Thislandmark piece of legislation was designed to protect plant and animalspecies from extinction based on our knowledge of conservation science atthe time. The Act has led to many success stories, primarily due to thegrowing sophistication of the conservation science it spurred, but will notbe sufficient on its own to address new conservation goals. With newlandmark conservation legislation unlikely in the near future, how willscientists continue to move forward in their quest to preserve biodiversity?

The 11th Smithsonian Botanical Symposium, hosted by the Department of Botanyand theUnited StatesBotanic Garden, will highlight past efforts and newthreats to conservation goals, as well as new approaches underway thatpromise to safeguard biodiversity both here in the U.S. and around theworld. The invited speakers will cover a wide range of endangered organisms,with a special focus on plants, to illustrate the challenges of modern-dayconservation science in a rapidly changing world.

Registration and poster abstract submission will begin February 1, 2013.

Local growers provide you with shrubs, native plants and wildflowers, ornamental grasses and unusual perennials and annuals. Green Spring master gardeners are also available with gardening information. Stop by to pick up something for your spring garden.

Tour some of the glorious demonstration gardens with a master gardener docent who will inspire you with stories of Green Spring past and present. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea served in our 1784 historic house. Ages 13 and older.

Flowers are seductive, drawing bees, birds….and fashion designers! Hear the history of personal adornment with flowers and interconnections between botany, garden aesthetics and clothing design. View fabulous floral motifs in fashion to see how their shapes and meanings have inspired designers through the ages.Ages 13 and older.

Travel to Wilmington, Delaware, to some of the finest woodland gardens around: Mt.CubaCenter and Winterthur. TourMt.Cuba’s native plant gardens in the morning and spend the afternoon at Winterthur with a house tour and a tram tour of the grounds and gardens. Morning tour requires extensive walking on various surfaces. Price includes motor coach and tours. Lunch is on own at Winterthur Café. Register on-line at www.greenspring.org or call GreenSpringGardens703-642-5173 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting703-642-5173 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Mixing perennials together can be challenging; coordinating heights, colors and bloom times. Shrubs can help glue your garden together as perennials show off intermittently. Horticulturalist Karen Rexrode shows you colorful shrubs and evergreens to anchor your mixed border for year round beauty. Register on-line at www.greenspring.org or call GreenSpringGardens703-642-5173 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting703-642-5173 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Sunday, May 12

Mother’s Day Tea

Call park for reservations. 1-3pm. $28 adult/ $18 children under 12

Raise your teacups to mothers and nurturers everywhere! We’ll tell you about some of the remarkable mothers who raised children in the Historic House from the 1780s to the 1960s. They lived in the same house but their stories – reflecting many eras – were very different. Ages 8 and older.

.Seasonal Cooking Class for FamiliesSaturday, May 11, 10am-1pmInstructor: JuJu Harris, Mobile Market Outreach CoordinatorAt this fun, hands-on, you and your family will harvest fresh spring produce from Arcadia Farm, and together we’ll create a delicious lunch with the best of what the season has to offer. Chef JuJu Harris will include family-friendly cooking tips and recipes. Fee: $35. Register now for this workshop.

What do manila folders, Chanel No. 5, vanilla and fossil fuels have in common? They all come from plants on permanent display in the USBG Conservatory. Take a tour with a knowledgeable guide who will connect the exotic plant world to everyday life. You might see bananas, cacao and coffee ripening on the tree or learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research.

Fresh herbs are a key ingredient in waking up and jazzing up almost any dish. The Cook Sisters will show you how to incorporate all the summer flavors—basil, parsley, oregano, tarragon, thyme, mint—in a variety of ways. Please note: This program is a repeat of the program from Friday, April 12.

Date: Thursday, April 18

Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: Conservatory Garden Court

FREE: No pre-registration required

Festival

Celebrate Earth Day!

USBG Staff

Join us as the U.S. Botanic Garden celebrates the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day! Come enjoy cooking demonstrations with seasonal produce and meet with representatives of environmental organizations from throughout the region. Drop by and learn all the ways that you can make the planet a healthier place and become a more active steward of the plants that support life on earth.

Using live orchid specimens, this class will spend the weekend creating a large painting featuring the anatomy of the plant. Participants will produce a beautiful lifelike painting, highlighting an orchidand how it works. Join Carol as she delves into the history of the botanical illustration of orchids and the techniques used in those paintings to produce a take-home illustration. Please note: Participants are encouraged to draw using prismacolor pencils or watercolor or a combination of both. The finished piece will fit nicely in an 11” x 14” or 8” x 10” vertically formatted space, or a larger space. A materials list can be found with the online listing. Please bring a lunch.

Join Harry Schnipper and the Blues Alley Jazz Society for this lively series of concerts as part of the 9th Annual BIG BAND JAM! The Blues Alley Jazz Society produces more than 60 acts, artists or events at eight separate venues during this 12-day event. The U.S. Botanic Garden is honored to play host to BIG BAND JAM! artists during this time.

Many foods and medicines come from African plants. For example, 75 percent of the world’s cocoa (chocolate) beans are grown by African farmers. Join Beth Burrous on a walking tour of the Conservatory highlighting African plants that are used to make everything from life-saving medicines to sweet and savory foods and coffee. This program is offered in conjunction with the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art’s Earth Matters Exhibition.

Date: Thursday, April 25

Time: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Tour will meet in the Conservatory Garden Court

FREE: No pre-registration required

Workshop

How Plants Work: A Workshop for Middle and High School Teachers

Lee Coykendall, USBG Children’s Education Specialist

Thinking about taking your students to the U.S. Botanic Garden? Looking for new ideas on how to teach your students about plants, their environment and how plants work? Join us for an evening

workshop for middle and high school teachers on how to use the U.S. Botanic Garden as an extension of your classroom. We will use the How Plants Work curriculum as a guide for the evening to explore photosynthesis, plant parts and adaptation. Please note: The workshop is limited to 20 participants.

Central Asiais an extremely unique region that served as the crossroads of the world during the time of the Great Silk Road. With Central Asia’s extremely diverse habitats, from saline deserts to some of the highest alpine regions of the world, its people have a great tradition of using plants as medicines. More recently, in the 20th century, extensive research of the chemical and pharmacological properties of local medicinal plants has been conducted. Although people have lived in Central Asia for millennia, there is still much to explore in this region of the world. This presentation will focus on both the fascinating history and the medicinal plants of this region.

JoinCity of Trees author and teacher Melanie Choukas-Bradley for a Friday evening tree ID workshop, followed by a Saturday morning tree ID session in the USBGRegionalGarden. Spring is the perfect time to dust off your tree ID skills and there is no better place for study than the USBG’s RegionalGarden with its many native woody plant species. On Friday evening, Melanie will teach tree ID basics specific to ourWashington, D.C., native and cultivated tree populations. On Saturday morning, she’ll lead the class through the RegionalGarden to practice these new skills among the native trees in full leaf and flower. Bring a bag lunch to enjoy in the garden after the tour. Please note: Registrants will receive a copy of City ofTrees for use as a guide during this course. This course will be limited to 20 participants. Participants are invited to bring a bag lunch on Saturday to eat with Melanie after the program.

Date: Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday

Location: Lecture will meet in the Conservatory Classroom; Tour will meet on the Terrace by the entrance to the Conservatory

They’re the iconic plants of the desert and great houseplants, if you can keep from sticking your fingers. Come learn about the evolution of this plant family, their numerous adaptations to conserve water, their close relationship with their pollinators, the important role they have as food sources for those that live in the desert and the unique role that they played in American history.

Landscape for Life (LFL) is an educational program that teaches homeowners how to holistically work with nature in their gardens and is based on the principles of the Sustainable Sites Initiative™. The series of five, two-hour webinars offers helpful teaching tips and tools that show you how to effectively utilize the teacher’s manual to deliver this valuable information to your target audience. The webinar series is a unique opportunity that provides the following benefits:

This complete teaching toolbox includes a downloadable, illustrated teacher’s manual and four accompanying slide presentations. Bring Landscape for Life to your community by becoming an official trainer. Ideal for botanic garden and horticulture educators, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and those interested in teaching about sustainable gardening practices. Please note: All participants should already possess sufficient gardening/horticulture background knowledge and experience as the training is not a “how-to” covering specific program content. Attendees must be able to participate in all five webinars.

What do manila folders, Chanel No. 5, vanilla and fossil fuels have in common? They all come from plants on permanent display in the USBG Conservatory. Take a tour with a knowledgeable guide who will connect the exotic plant world to everyday life. You might see bananas, cacao and coffee ripening on the tree or learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research.

Dates: Mondays, May 6, 13, 20

Time: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Conservatory Garden Court

FREE: No pre-registration required

Dates: Wednesdays, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Time: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Conservatory Garden Court

FREE: No pre-registration required

Lecture

Medicinal Plants: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Facts

Dr. Lena Struwe, Associate Professor, RutgersUniversity

Plants are chemical factories that produce a multitude of antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal compounds as part of their defense. Humans have utilized many of these chemicals as powerful drugs from time immemorial, but using herbals as medicines is not always good or safe. Issues such as chemical variation within plants and accurate sourcing from nature (or cultivation) will be discussed. How do we make sure that the ground up powder or tincture actually comes from the plant we think?

Spend the day in the Conservatory celebrating herbs, discovering the significance of herbs in our lives and the many ways herbs can be used safely and creatively for health, beauty and culinary enjoyment. Enjoy demonstrations, activities and information tables throughout the Conservatory. You won’t want to miss this amazing opportunity to learn more about herbs!

Date: Saturday, May 4

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Conservatory

FREE: No pre-registration required

Tour

Spring Tree Tour of the Capitol Grounds

Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees

Spend a May morning strolling under the venerable trees that grace the U.S. Capitol grounds with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of City of Trees. The lush and botanically diverse Capitol grounds were designed by the pre-eminent 19th century landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted—designer of New York City’sCentral Park and many other North American landscapes—and they have been described as one of the world’s finest arboretums. We will explore the historic groves of the Capitol at the height of spring foliage and flower, admiring and learning about the trees that grace the grounds, including species from around the United Statesand the world. We hope to see magnolias, fringe-trees, buckeyes, horse-chestnuts and other flowering trees in bloom. The tour begins at the USBG Conservatory and continues to the Capitol. Learn some basics of tree identification and a secret side of political Washington: the love of trees that goes back to founding presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and led to the capital becoming known as the “City of Trees.” Memorial trees planted by Members of Congress— including one that is 100 years old—are among the trees on the tour. Hear arboreal highlights of the city’s planning history and recommendations for local natural areas for further exploration. Please note: This tour is held outdoors. We suggest bringing sunscreen, protective clothing and water. The tour is canceled if it rains or during times of extreme heat (heat index of 95 degrees or higher/Code Red weather alert).

Date: Saturday, May 4

Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Tour meets on the Terrace by the entrance to the USBG Conservatory

Mid-day Tour in the Garden ofGood and Evil: Medicinal and Poison Plants at the USBG

Beth Burrous, Biochemist and USBG Volunteer

Many important medicines are derived from plants, but too much of a good thing can be dangerous. During a walking tour of the Conservatory and NationalGarden, Beth Burrous will feature poisonous and medicinal plants growing at the USBG. She will talk about famous, interesting and sometimes fatal cases of poisoning by plants. You will also see and learn about plants used to make life-saving medicines.

What better way to enjoy spring than to dine alfresco. The Cook Sisters will demo recipes drawn from the garden perfect for the garden party table.

Date: Friday, May 10

Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: Conservatory Garden Court

FREE: No pre-registration required

Book Talk

“Rosemary Verey: The Life & Lessons of a Legendary Gardener”

Barbara Paul Robinson, Author

Although she embraced gardening late in life, English garden legend Rosemary Verey quickly achieved international renown. She was the acknowledged apostle of the “English style” on display at her home at Barnsley House in the Cotswolds of England, the “must have” adviser to the rich and famous, including Prince Charles and Elton John, and a beloved and wildly popular lecturer in America. Barbara Paul Robinson worked as a gardener for Rosemary Verey during a sabbatical from working in law. Barbara describes Rosemary as her boss, her teacher, her mentor and special friend. She will speak about Verey’s life and her contributions to the field of landscape design and will include some behind the scenes stories of working at Barnsley.

Join us for nature-inspired stories about plants, soil, digging and planting and then dig into some hands on plant science.

Date: Saturday, May 11

Times: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.—Stories for 3–5 year olds followed by a gardening activity

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.—Stories for 6-10 year olds followed by hands on plant science

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.—Stories for all ages followed by plant science experiments

Location: NationalGarden (Rain location: Conservatory West Gallery)

FREE: No pre-registration required

Lecture

Establishing Resilient Urban Landscapes Using Native Plants

Claudia West, North Creek Nurseries, Inc.

Today’s urban landscape challenges plant health with a difficult pallet of harsh site conditions. During the course of evolution, plant communities have developed fascinating strategies to deal with tough environments that enable vegetation to thrive in extreme situations. Join Claudia to explore the wealth of native species that are naturally adapted to urban conditions and discover creative ways to increase biodiversity and life quality in our cities.

Not enough science in your week? Join Lee for an afternoon of hands on plant science. Travel through the Conservatory experiencing the different biomes and learn about plant adaptations, explore the special relationship between plant and pollinator and discover how a marshmallow can help you understand how plants photosynthesize.

Is your mom breathtakingly beautiful, a real sweetheart, charming, cuddly or—oh my goodness—ferociously thorny? Is she a city girl or does she prefer rugged, windy sea coasts? Is she spicy and wild, or does she prefer sensible shoes? We have just the right rose and rose story for her. Please note: This tour is held outdoors and meets on the NationalGarden Lawn Terrace. We suggest wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and bringing water. The tour is canceled if it rains or during times of extreme heat (heat index of 95 degrees or higher/ Code Red weather alert).

“Lady’s slippers,” writes Jack Sanders author of The Secrets of Wildflowers, “are among those special wildflowers whose locations are whispered only to trusted people.” Without a whisper, Jackie Bailey Labovitz began her relentless search for the rare exotic woodland orchids. Celebrate Mother’s Day with Jackie as she tours UNDERSTORY and shares tales of what happened along the way, hiking day in and day out, with one lens and one camera, in natural light just beneath the forest canopy.

Join the Accokeek Foundation for a morning with Stefano Briguglio of Azure B LLC as we explore respectful and chemical-free beekeeping! The course will include hive components, hive occupants, a look at seasonal duties and responsibilities for bees, and basic hive management.

Stefano Briguglio from Azure B LLC runs a small family permaculture farm and apiary in Marbury, Maryland with his wife, Heidi. They specialize in honeybees, hive products, woodware and beautiful childrens toys that are handmade in Southern Maryland. They offer beekeeping, composting, vermiculture and other education courses year round.

Learn how to identify some of our common local plants, including characteristics used in basic botany and some patterns of major plant families in our area. We will use examples found along the walk and learn how to use a basic key to wildflowers. This will be a slow-paced walk, with more time spent discussing plants than walking. Please bring a water container and dress appropriately for the weather.

About the Instructor: Holly Poole-Kavana

Holly is a lifelong plant enthusiast, and started formally studying herbal medicine in 2005, after she began working in health care. She is the owner of Little Red Bird Botanicals and is excited about the ways herbal medicine can help us all to have a little more control over our own health, and provide support to those we care about. She had apprenticed with herbalist 7song at the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, completed the Clinic II program at Sacred Plant Traditions, studied at the Pacific School of Botanical Medicine, and hold a BS in botany.

Energy conservation, eco-friendly commuting, healthy homes, and sustainable living are just some of the items on the menu for the Green Living Expo and Arlington Earth Week Community Fair taking place this Earth Day with more than 50 exhibitors with a wide variety of planet-friendly services and products.

A ceremony recognizing the winner of and nominees to the George Mason University Green Patriot Award. This award recognizes an individual, business or organization that exemplifies sustainability in order to better civic life in the Arlingtoncommunity.

Artistic rain barrels created through Mason’s Operation Rain Barrel, a fun, creative project with Arlington Public Schools that engages students in learning about environmental sustainability. All barrels will be judged and the top entries will garner prizes for their school. In addition, the artistic rain barrels will be auctioned off at the fair through a silent auction.

Other event activities include: seminars held in three breakout rooms, DIY tents, and activities for children. Parents are encouraged to bring their children so they can learn about the importance of environmental stewardship.

PRE-REGISTER TODAY!Registration for this event is required (either in advance or onsite on the day of the event). Online pre-registration is strongly encouraged for speedy check-in on the day of the event. Pre-registered attendees will receive a free raffle ticket and a special giveaway at check-in, while supplies last!Pre-register now <http://ace-green-living-expo.eventbrite.com/>

The Beltsville Garden Club will hold its second plant sale of the spring on Saturday, May 11, 2013 in the parking lot of High PointHigh School,

3601 Powder Mill Rd.,Beltsville, Md.

The sale runs from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon and will be held rain or shine. Come early for the best selection of quality plants at reasonable prices from our members. A variety of annuals, vegetables, herbs, houseplants, shrubs, perennials and trees will be available. In addition, plants from the club’s greenhouse at the JamesE.DuckworthSchool will be for sale. All proceeds from the club’s greenhouse sales go to support the students atDuckworthSchool. For more information about the plant sale you can contact Plant Sale Chair, Marcy Marinelli at 301-937-3683 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting301-937-3683 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

The Beltsville Garden Club celebrates its 61st anniversary this year and has a rich tradition of gardening and philanthropic activities in Beltsville. For information on the club, please see our website at: www.beltsvillegardenclub.org. Membership is only $10 a year per family and includes our monthly informational meetings on garden topics and several club social events each year. We welcome new members at any time. No gardening experience is needed!

Now……there is no way you can say that you are bored!!!!! Thank You Kathy Jentz and Washington Gardener Magazine for all that you do!!!